In 2000, this nation had a $230 billion dollar budget surplus. By 2004, that surplus had evaporated, to be replaced by a deficit of $412 billion (1.).

In May of 2000, Japan held $337 billion in US treasuries, China - $60.4 billion, OPEC $48.3 billion. In total, $1,260.8 billion in US debt was held by foreign central banks. (2.) In February of 2005, Japan held $702.1 billion, China - $196.5 billion, OPEC - $67.1 billion. In total, $1,996 billion in US debt is being held by foreign central banks. (3.)

This amount of US debt in the hands of foreign interests represents a threat to this nation unimagined by our Founding Fathers over two hundred years ago, let alone two or three decades ago. Foreign interests, with their hands on America's purse-strings, may now have the power to devastate the US economy at any time of their choosing. This blade hangs over America, yet our elected, some would say <i>selected</i>, leaders refuse to acknowledge its presence...let alone their complicity...in bringing about this state of affairs.

This administration has presided over wartime tax-cuts, a free-falling dollar, and surging foreign trade deficits as well as the ever expanding federal budget deficit, estimated at some $512 billion for 2005 (4.) ( this doesn't even include the cost of ongoing operations in Afghanistan and Iraq).

In placing our nations finacial health so firmly in the hands of foreign powers, this adminstration has betrayed its responsibility to the American people...It has abandoned any pretext of fiscal responsibility...It has turned a blind eye to war profiteers (5.)...In short, this administration and the Republican leadership in Congress have betrayed their oaths of office by ceding so much power over this nation directly into the hands of foreign agents. This is nothing short of treason, and its perpetrators should be brought to justice. It is time to stop coddling these vipers in our breast and name them for the traitors they are.

In 2000, this nation had a $230 billion dollar budget surplus. By 2004, that surplus had evaporated, to be replaced by a deficit of $412 billion (1.).

In May of 2000, Japan held $337 billion in US treasuries, China - $60.4 billion, OPEC $48.3 billion. In total, $1,260.8 billion in US debt was held by foreign central banks. (2.) In February of 2005, Japan held $702.1 billion, China - $196.5 billion, OPEC - $67.1 billion. In total, $1,996 billion in US debt is being held by foreign central banks. (3.)

This amount of US debt in the hands of foreign interests represents a threat to this nation unimagined by our Founding Fathers over two hundred years ago, let alone two or three decades ago. Foreign interests, with their hands on America's purse-strings, may now have the power to devastate the US economy at any time of their choosing. This blade hangs over America, yet our elected, some would say <i>selected</i>, leaders refuse to acknowledge its presence...let alone their complicity...in bringing about this state of affairs.

This administration has presided over wartime tax-cuts, a free-falling dollar, and surging foreign trade deficits as well as the ever expanding federal budget deficit, estimated at some $512 billion for 2005 (4.) ( this doesn't even include the cost of ongoing operations in Afghanistan and Iraq).

In placing our nations finacial health so firmly in the hands of foreign powers, this adminstration has betrayed its responsibility to the American people...It has abandoned any pretext of fiscal responsibility...It has turned a blind eye to war profiteers (5.)...In short, this administration and the Republican leadership in Congress have betrayed their oaths of office by ceding so much power over this nation directly into the hands of foreign agents. This is nothing short of treason, and its perpetrators should be brought to justice. It is time to stop coddling these vipers in our breast and name them for the traitors they are.

when the nation is strong we are too strong...when the nation is weak we are too weak....when people are being killed in iraq by their own leader we should save them ...... when we do we shouldn't ....

in every group of people there is a group that will complain.....about anything and everthing..... and nothing will make them happy......

when i saw the title i figured Bully would be talking about himself. I suppose in a way he is. After all if you can ignore the fact that the surplus was a lie to begin with and the fact that WE WERE FREAKING ATTACKED!!!!! it says alot more about him that it does about anyone here in support of the defense and freedom of our nation.

In 2000, this nation had a $230 billion dollar budget surplus. By 2004, that surplus had evaporated, to be replaced by a deficit of $412 billion (1.).

In May of 2000, Japan held $337 billion in US treasuries, China - $60.4 billion, OPEC $48.3 billion. In total, $1,260.8 billion in US debt was held by foreign central banks. (2.) In February of 2005, Japan held $702.1 billion, China - $196.5 billion, OPEC - $67.1 billion. In total, $1,996 billion in US debt is being held by foreign central banks. (3.)

This amount of US debt in the hands of foreign interests represents a threat to this nation unimagined by our Founding Fathers over two hundred years ago, let alone two or three decades ago. Foreign interests, with their hands on America's purse-strings, may now have the power to devastate the US economy at any time of their choosing. This blade hangs over America, yet our elected, some would say <i>selected</i>, leaders refuse to acknowledge its presence...let alone their complicity...in bringing about this state of affairs.

This administration has presided over wartime tax-cuts, a free-falling dollar, and surging foreign trade deficits as well as the ever expanding federal budget deficit, estimated at some $512 billion for 2005 (4.) ( this doesn't even include the cost of ongoing operations in Afghanistan and Iraq).

In placing our nations finacial health so firmly in the hands of foreign powers, this adminstration has betrayed its responsibility to the American people...It has abandoned any pretext of fiscal responsibility...It has turned a blind eye to war profiteers (5.)...In short, this administration and the Republican leadership in Congress have betrayed their oaths of office by ceding so much power over this nation directly into the hands of foreign agents. This is nothing short of treason, and its perpetrators should be brought to justice. It is time to stop coddling these vipers in our breast and name them for the traitors they are.

but on the other hand.... since you're so concerned about our debt and the effect of foreign holdings on our nation's security.... I'm sure you want to see government spending cut drastically and immediately.....

So, effective today ....

1. Cut to the bone all departments that are not related to defense
2. Lay off every unionized government employee and replace them with non-union workers .... forbid any government employee from going on strike on pain of prison. In addition, fire/jail any government employee who doesn't do their job.
3. Forbid any spending increases not related to national defense.
4. set as a goal an 10% real reduction in the amount of government spending each year (this is conservative)

but on the other hand.... since you're so concerned about our debt and the effect of foreign holdings on our nation's security.... I'm sure you want to see government spending cut drastically and immediately.....

So, effective today ....

1. Cut to the bone all departments that are not related to defense
2. Lay off every unionized government employee and replace them with non-union workers .... forbid any government employee from going on strike on pain of prison. In addition, fire/jail any government employee who doesn't do their job.
3. Forbid any spending increases not related to national defense.
4. set as a goal an 10% real reduction in the amount of government spending each year (this is conservative)

that's for starters

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1. Great idea. But the DoD could use some fat-trimming as well. I would actually go for some department elimination.

2. Gov't employees are already forbidden from striking, as far as I know.

3. Like I said, there's enough fat in DoD that you could keep them at the same dollar level for a year or two.

1. Great idea. But the DoD could use some fat-trimming as well. I would actually go for some department elimination.

2. Gov't employees are already forbidden from striking, as far as I know.

3. Like I said, there's enough fat in DoD that you could keep them at the same dollar level for a year or two.

4. That will work up to a point.

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Tell you what.... remember the days of 500 dollar toilet seats? Those days are long gone. I work in the defense industry and can tell you that there is a lot of oversight. You have to meet stated cost and schedule objectives or the DoD fines you or makes you pay for the difference..... I don't see that happening in a lot of the other government areas.

Government employees are forbidden from striking, but in some cases they do. Also, many government employees are unionized (well over half).... whereas less than 8% of private sector jobs are unionized. That has to change. Union labor is not cost effective. Many government employees get better benefits than private sector workers and more time off (at tax payer expense), that is costing the tax payer a lot.

The DoD budget is less than 20% of the total federal budget. Medicaid, Social Security and Human Services are over 50% of the budget. If I were looking to cut the budget, I would look at the biggest items first. Also, there are a lot of programs e.g. the rural electrification program, that have outlived their usefulness (almost all rural areas have electric power).

You could cut half of the government programs in this country and probably not suffer any ill effects.

Tell you what.... remember the days of 500 dollar toilet seats? Those days are long gone. I work in the defense industry and can tell you that there is a lot of oversight. You have to meet stated cost and schedule objectives or the DoD fines you or makes you pay for the difference..... I don't see that happening in a lot of the other government areas.

Government employees are forbidden from striking, but in some cases they do. Also, many government employees are unionized (well over half).... whereas less than 8% of private sector jobs are unionized. That has to change. Union labor is not cost effective. Many government employees get better benefits than private sector workers and more time off (at tax payer expense), that is costing the tax payer a lot.

The DoD budget is less than 20% of the total federal budget. Medicaid, Social Security and Human Services are over 50% of the budget. If I were looking to cut the budget, I would look at the biggest items first. Also, there are a lot of programs e.g. the rural electrification program, that have outlived their usefulness (almost all rural areas have electric power).

You could cut half of the government programs in this country and probably not suffer any ill effects.

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I'm not saying that DoD is the only wasteful agency. I'm saying that I don't agree when people say "Let's slash the government - except for DoD." DoD should be held just as accountable as everyone else.

I think we are in total agreement about cutting other gov't programs, though.

I'm not saying that DoD is the only wasteful agency. I'm saying that I don't agree when people say "Let's slash the government - except for DoD." DoD should be held just as accountable as everyone else.

I think we are in total agreement about cutting other gov't programs, though.

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perhaps during times of peace, but definitely not during times of war, as we are presently!

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